Background
Nottinghamshire face Derbyshire at Trent Bridge this week looking to build on a three match unbeaten run. After defeating Surrey at home they embarked on back-to-back away matches, earning draws from trips to Hove and Scarborough.
Mick Newell’s side currently sit fifth in the table. Although they have a game in hand on the four sides above them, they are 18.5 points adrift of fourth placed Durham. Derbyshire go into the match in ninth position in Division One, having lost four (Middx, Notts, Yorks and Sussex) and drawn two (Warwicks and Surrey) of their six matches.
Head to head
In overall meetings, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire have met 201 times, although four of the fixtures were abandoned without a ball bowled.
Of the other 197, Notts lead by 65 wins to 44, with 88 draws.
At Trent Bridge, there have been 91 county championship meetings, with Notts ahead by 32 wins to 15.
Notts last success at home was in 2004. Derbyshire’s last success in Nottingham came in 2002 and the most recent meeting, 2007, provided a draw.
Last Meeting
It’s almost exactly six years since Notts hosted Derbyshire at Trent Bridge in the county championship. Beginning on 15 June 2007, the two sides drew a second division match here, with Charlie Shreck taking 7-35 as the visitors were blown away for 108 on the third day, after the opening two days had been completely wiped out through bad weather.
Notts responded with 302 for two declared, with Mark Wagh scoring an unbeaten 123, sharing in an unbroken third wicket stand of 186 with Samit Patel, who finished on 89 not out.
Derbyshire were 95-3 at the close. The fixture featured the only first class appearance of Richard Hodgkinson’s career. Mansfield-born, he played just the one match for Derbyshire, two years after making a solitary List-A outing for Notts.
Notts: Gallian, Fleming, Patel, Wagh, Hussey, Read, Ealham, Francis, Swann, Shreck, Footitt
Derbys: Birch, Stubbings, Taylor, Katich, Birt, Smith, Botha, Pipe, Wagg, Lungley, Hodgkinson
Stats
Nottinghamshire’s highest score against Derbyshire at Trent Bridge is the 614 they made in 1988. Derek Randall scored 237 in that innings, the top score made by a home batsman against their closest rivals and also the highest of Randall’s 52 first class centuries. The former England batsman shared in a fourth-wicket stand of 345 with Mick Newell, who made 105, as Notts powered on to victory by an innings and 41 runs.
Derbyshire’s highest total in Nottingham is 570, achieved in 1897, whilst Pat Vaulkhard – who had previously played nine first class matches for Notts – returned to his former club to score 264 in 1946, the most runs scored by a Derbyshire batsman on the ground.
Notts have never been dismissed for lower than the 94 they put on the board in 1878 but a year later they turned the tables dramatically as Derbyshire fell for just 16, with Fred Morley taking 7-7.
William Mycroft has the best figures by a visiting bowler in the series of matches, picking up 7-35 in 1878.
Played For Them Both
Left-arm fast bowler Mark Footitt (pictured) may appear for Derbyshire this week, four years after joining them from Notts.
Nottingham-born, Footitt played eight first class matches and took 21 wickets for the Trent Bridge side before moving to The County Ground.
Given the close proximity of the two grounds it’s not really surprising that a number of other players have appeared for both counties.
Each county currently has someone on their coaching staff who has represented both Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Mike Hendrick, fast bowling coach under Mick Newell at Trent Bridge, began at Derby before switching, whilst Andrew 'AJ' Harris, is currently part of the backroom team at the County Ground having played for both.
Amongst other players to have appeared for both counties are: Brian Bolus, Wayne Dessaur, Matt Dowman, Richard Hodgkinson, John Morris, Akhil Patel, Harold Rhodes, Mark Saxelby and Pat Vaulkhard.
Bracegirdle's Interesting Fact
In August 1974 Garfield Sobers’ final home championship match for Nottinghamshire was against Derbyshire at Trent Bridge. During the lunch interval the legendary West Indian was presented with a silver tankard by the club president, Frank Gregory. It was inscribed, “To Gary Sobers – a great player and a gentleman.”
Milestones
Australia’s Ed Cowan will be making his final appearance for Nottinghamshire during this match. The opening batsman celebrates his 31st birthday on Sunday.
In first class cricket Chris Read has scored 12,928 runs, Samit Patel has hit 6,963 runs and James Taylor’s tally is 5,935.
History
The lowest score made against Nottinghamshire is 16 – by Surrey in 1880 and, a year earlier, by Derbyshire at Trent Bridge. Responding to the home side’s 159, Derbyshire were undone by just two bowlers, Fred Morley and Alf Shaw. In an innings that included six ducks Morley recorded figures of 7-7, with his partner returning 3-9. Following on, the visitors only made 44, with the same two bowlers each collecting a further five wickets.
In the era of three-day championship cricket Notts and Derbyshire participated in an extraordinary fixture at Trent Bridge in 1989. The second morning, a Monday, began with 20 wickets having already gone down on the Saturday. With a 20-run advantage Nottinghamshire began again but both openers, Chris Broad and Paul Pollard, were struck whilst batting.
At the fall of Broad’s wicket – at 11.40am – the umpires left the field to telephone the TCCB and ask for guidance. After a two-hour delay, play re-started on another wicket, the one used for the recent Test match. Derbyshire’s West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding disagreed with the decision and took no further part in the contest.
Wickets continued to fall steadily – Notts all out for 114 and Derbyshire folding for just 64 in their second innings. Despite the 70-run victory, Nottinghamshire were docked 25 points for preparing an unsatisfactory surface.
Team News
After sending out the same eleven for the recent back-to-back fixtures at Hove and Scarborough Mick Newell will check on the recovery of his players before announcing the squad to face Derbyshire.
Andre Adams picked up a calf injury when the sides met at Derby in April. Nearing recovery, Adams may well be in line for a return to first team action this week. One man who won’t be involved is Graeme White. The slow left-arm spinner has joined Northants on loan and will play a couple of championship matches for them, although he will still be eligible to return and play for the Outlaws in the YB40 competition.
Tickets
For ticket prices and match information click here.
Coverage
BBC Radio Nottingham will be providing on-line ball-by-ball commentary for the entire match. Access the link via the BBC Sport website.